Ganging attachment for folding chairs

ABSTRACT

Identical fittings are attached in mutually inverted positions at vertically spaced points on the legs of folding chairs, each fitting being channel-shaped with its flanges welded to the leg and having its web provided with a headed stud at one end and a slot at the other. Relative vertical movement between the chairs so equipped will engage the slotted ends of the respective fittings of one chair with the projecting studs of the adjacent chair, thus interlocking the chairs against lateral separation.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Philip J. Hendrickson;

Richard J. Resch, both of Green Bay, Wis. [21] Applv No. 835,569 [22] Filed June 23, 1969 [45] Patented Oct. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee Krueger Metal Products, Inc.

Green Bay, Wis.

[54] GANGING ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING CHAIRS 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. Cl 297/248 [51] Int. Cl A47c 15/00 [50] Field of Search 297/248 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,227,487 1/1966 Blanchard et al 297/248 Re. 26,07l 8/1966 Rowland 297/24sx 3.l27,218 3/1964 Banke 297/248 FOREIGN PATENTS 540,027 Germany 297/248 Primary ExaminerPaul R. Gilliam Attorney-Wheeler, House 8L Wheeler ABSTRACT: Identical fittings are attached in mutually inverted positions at vertically spaced points on the legs of folding chairs, each fitting being channel-shaped with its flanges welded to the leg and having its web provided with a headed stud at one end and a slot at the other. Relative vertical movement between the chairs so equipped will engage the slotted ends of the respective fittings of one chair with the projecting studs of the adjacent chair, thus interlocking the chairs against lateral separation.

GANGING ATTACHMENT FOR FOLDING CHAIRS BACKGROUND OF INVENTION A variety of ganging fittings is available but few have been appropriate for folding chairs and none has been as simple as the instant device.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION A major feature of the invention consists in providing mutually interlocking fittings which are identical with each other except as to orientation, the fittings on the right-hand side of the chair being inverted with reference to the fittings on the left-hand side of the chair and all fittings being rigidly connected with the chair by means of flanges of the channelshaped fittings which are welded to the chair, further rigidity and permanence of connection being provided by extending the shank of the stud through the chair leg and riveting it to the side of the leg opposite that which carries the fitting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view showing in perspective a pair of ganged chairs, portions being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective showing a pair of fittings respectively mounted on chair legs and illustrated in mutually separated positions.

FIG. 3 is a view partially in front elevation and partially in section showing the fittings interlocked to connect the ganged chairs.

FIG. 4 is a view taken in section on the line 44 of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a view taken in section on the line 55 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The ganging attachment may be applied to most chairs. It is particularly designed for folding chairs. The type of folding chair illustrated is one in which the front leg element 6 has the form of an inverted U with the chair back 8 mounted in the bight 10 of the leg element. The rear legs 12 and 14 comprise separate tubes connected by cross bars 16 and 18 and connected to the front leg element 6 by links 20. The seat 22 is pivoted at 24 to the rear legs and is pivoted at 25 to the legs 26 and 28 of the front leg element 6. This type of chair is well known and therefore no further description will be devoted to it.

The fittings 30 with which the present invention is particularly concerned are channel-shaped, comprising webs 32 with flanges 34 spread somewhat (if necessary) and connected by means such as welds 36 with the leg members 26 and 28. On the leg member 26 at one side of each chair, the fittings will be inverted with respect to the fittings used on the leg member 28 at the other side of the chair. All of the chairs to be ganged are provided with similarly inverted fittings.

A slot 38 in the web of each fitting opens at one end of the fitting. Near its opposite end, each fitting is provided with a headed stud 40 having a shank at 42 receivable into the slot 38 of a like fitting. Desirably this shank extends completely through the leg and has a riveted end 44 engaging the opposite surface of the leg.

As best shown in FIG. I, one of the fittings 30 is used at the top of each leg of the front leg member 6 and one is used near the bottom.

As will readily be apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, a relative vertical movement of the legs 26 and 28 will engage or disengage the connection between the two chairs, according to the direction of such movement.

Optionally, a piece of the metal forming the web 32 of the fitting may be turned inwardly as shown at 46 and engaged with the adjacent surface of the leg to close the channel at the end of the fitting closest to the headed stud 40.

We claim:

1. In combination, a pair of chair leg elements provided at corresponding elevations respectivel above and below the seat with ganging fittings whlch are I entical except that they are in mutually inverted positions, each such fitting comprising a channel having divergent flanges welded to the respective leg element and having webs completing the channel between such flanges, the respective webs having slots which in one fitting open to the lower end thereof and in the other fitting open to the upper end thereof, said webs further being provided at their ends opposite said slots with shouldered and headed studs with shank portions receivable into slots of like fittings on another chair upon relative movement between the leg elements of respective chairs, each such fitting having its end portion contiguous to the headed stud closed by an integral flange.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which each of said studs has an extension through the associated leg element and provided with a head in engagement with the leg element at the opposite side thereof from said channel. 

1. In combination, a pair of chair leg elements provided at corresponding elevations respectively above and below the seat with ganging fittings which are identical except that they are in mutually inverted positions, each such fitting comprising a channel having divergent flanges welded to the respective leg element and having webs completing the channel between such flanges, the respective webs having slots which in one fitting open to the lower end thereof and in the other fitting open to the upper end thereof, said webs further being provided at their ends opposite said slots with shouldered and headed studs with shank portions receivable into slots of like fittings on another chair upon relative movement between the leg elements of respective chairs, each such fitting having its end portion contiguous to the headed stud closed by an integral flange.
 2. A combination according to claim 1 in which each of said studs has an extension through the associated leg element and provided with a head in engagement with the leg element at the opposite side thereof from said channel. 